Easy-lacing device



1.. FUNCK EASY LACING DEVICE July 31, 1923.

Filed Oct. 20. 1922 BY AA/s ATTORNEYJ INVENTOR Mr: Z I

p/u/ildle 72% 22 I Patented duly 31, less.

marten innarargenr castes.

LOUIS FUNCK 0F BRONXVILLE, INEW'v YORK.

EASY-LACING DEVICE.

Application filed October 20, 1922. Serial No. 595,740.

This invention relates to an easy lacing device for use wherever: lacing is employed to hold together adjacent edges of leather or other material.

The invention has as an object the construction of a device which will. make it easy to lace together adjoining edges of leather or other material. It has as an object the construction of a device which will permit the rapid lacing of the adjoining edges of leather. or other similar material y a single pull of the ends of the laces whereby the edges are brought together without the necessity of having to thread the laces through a number of eyelets before drawing out the ends of the laces.

A further object of the invention is to construct a device which may be inserted between split sections of the leather along the edges to be laced, and the provision of means in said devices for engaging the laces and permitting their easy movement. A further object of the invention is to construct the lacing devices so that they may be used on shoes or other articles without unduly attracting notice. 7

These objects and others are achieved by this invention in the following manner, the

disclosure constituting a preferred embodi-' ment thereof. The drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, and in said drawings- Figure 1 represents a side view of the lacing device between outer and inner sections of the leather or other material;

Fig. 2 represents a section through Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 represents a section of a tion of the lacing device.

In said drawings there are shown sheets modificaof leather 1 and 2 spaced apart at their edges 7 either by splitting the leather along its edges or by some other mode of construction. Be-

tween these sheets of leatherthere is, posi tioned the lacing device denoted generally by the numeral 3. The latter has a button 4 mounted thereon, and also has two flanges 5 and 6 which operate to hold the leather sheets 1 and 2m fixed position relative to the device 3. A flange 7 is mounted upon a cylindrical member 8 having a head or snap 9 on the end thereof for the purpose of e11- gaging a recess in the interior of the button 4- to snap the latter in position. A loosely mounted and rotatable collar 10 is positioned between the flanges 5 and 6 around the device 3, and around this collar the laces 11 are intended to pass.

In the modification of Fig. 3, the button.

12- is integral witha cylindrical shaft 13 and a flared-out flange 1d, the latter serving to grip the leather adjacent thereto. The structure is otherwise the same as in the other embodiment.

It will be seen thatthe leather and to be firmly secured in position. Aspace is provided between theleather sections for. the insert-ion of the laces around the rotatable collarsllO, thus permitting an easy and rapid movement of the lacesWith almost no friction. -The' laces, by reason of their position between theleather sections,

lacing device is constructed to be inserted in the eyelet of the are hidden from view, and are ordinarily not moved from their positions.

In. the operatlon of the device, after the laces have been threaded around the collars 10 in the several eyelets of the leather, it

willbe merely necessary topull on the ends of the laces in order to draw the edges of the leather sheets together, and thereupon the laces maybe tied. When itis desired to separate theleather again, it will be merely :suflicient to untie the laces and pull the leather ed es apart ,slnce the rotation of the collars it) will prevent any friction.

It willbeobvious that the laces need not-be removed from their positions around the collars 10 between the split sections of leather. This device may find application in any case where it is desired to bring together two leather sheets or sheets of other material, by means of laces. For example,

it may be used for lacing belts, canvas sheets, bags, corsets, shoes, and other objects. In the lacing of shoes, for example, the shoes may be punctured for eyelets in th usual manner either. part of the wayor all ofthe way, and the edges of the leather may be split or otherwise constructed to b9 TOTIHEC]. ll'l SGUZlTZLlLGd SGClIlOIlS ad'ac'ent r said eyelets and the edges of the uppers.

The lacing device may then be inserted in p the eyelets and fastened therein, after which the edges of the leather? may be sewed "or otherwise rastened together between the eye'- lets in order to make the construction'niore secure against coming I "apart under the stresses of Wear. -The laces maybe then passed between the leather sections and around the rollers in the same manner as v the ordinary shoe Wouldbe laced, the 'dif-" ference being that the laces Will not :be visibleei'ico'pt where "they pass across'the space between the edges of tlie'leather flaps, that is, they Will not be seen coming from the eyelets. The latter may be closed by neat appearing buttons such as buttons l shown in F ig l, or th'cymay be left open. Shoes so constructed will be easy to put on and take "ofl, since allfthat' is necessary Without bringing the leather edges together-is to pull on the ends of the -laces; whereupon they fwill slip" around the collars 1O and dratv'togethfer th'e leather'flaps in a single operation. The usual bow will tlien'b'e tied. \Vhen taking the shoe off, it will be sulficien'tto untie 'the bow andpullthe flaps apart, for the laces. will offer no resistance to such ap'ull. It will be evidentthat'the bodiinents of this invention 'may be made Without departing from the spirit thereof,

it is to be understood that I" do not intend to "limit in'yse'lf to the specific embodiment thereof,"'except"asindicated in the appended 1'. In devices:'forlacing'together adjoiningfedg'es "0t leather ors'imilar material, the

"combination of additional strips adjacent sausages,- eyelets along said edges and strips, short cylindrical bearings'in the eyej lets; having flanges against the inside of saidil'fathe'r edges and strips, loose'collars laces remaininposition around the'collars between said fi'anges5 buttons fr'em'ovably mounted on the outsideof the bearings to cover the eyelets, and means to hold the bearings 'inplace;=-

2. In devices for lacing together ad 01ni'ng edgeeef leather or similar materialythe combination of additional strips adjacent the saidedges', eyelets along said edges and strips short cylindrical hearings in the eye' lets having flanges bearing against the in-f sides of said leather edgesjand strips, rotatable collars between said flanges, buttons mounted on the outside of the bearings to cover the eyelets, and me'ans to hold the to provide flaps, eyelets along saidflaps,

short cylindrical bearings in the eyelets hav ing flanges bearing against-the insides of said flaps; rotatable collars between the'sai'd flanges, "buttons mounted on the outside' "of the cylinders to cover 't-heieyelets, and means to hold the said cylindrical loearringsi n place. i I a j 1 4. In devices for lacingtogetheradjoim 'fing edges oi 'leather or similar material,

Whose edges are split,';*eyelets along 'iisjaid edges, short integral cylindrical hearings in the eyelets havingfl'angesbear-ing against the insides of said leather, "loos'e' collars between said flanges and 'means to holdthe said bearings in place. 1

5. In devicesfor lacing togeth'er adjoin ing edges "of leather or similar material; the combination of "additional strips-adjacent sa d edges, eyelets along said' 'e'dges and strips; short integialicylindrical' bearings-in the eyelets having ii'an es bearing against the inside of saidl'e'ather edges and strips,

loose rotatable colla'ir'sH'iioii'Iited'bet-Wee I said fiangesy'and, meaii's to holdthe hearings in In testi'nionythat I ciaim"thefii-egqing-i have hereunto set my hand this tth' day-er "October51922W" LOUIS l.*"lll T(1K.-V 

